fleet1

 
Pronunciation: /fliːt/

noun

  • a group of ships sailing together, engaged in the same activity, or under the same ownership: the small port supports a fishing fleet a fleet of battleships
  • (the fleet) a country’s navy: the US fleet
  • a number of vehicles or aircraft operating together or under the same ownership: a fleet of ambulances took the injured to hospital

Origin:

Old English flēot 'ship, shipping', from flēotan 'float, swim' (see fleet4)